Blind Turkish Artist

[Humphreys]

This isn't necessarily associated with paranormal, but to me these claims seem impossible and potential fakery is involved.

This is the art of a Turkish man apparently completely blind from birth:

http://www.armagan.com/paintings.asp

How is this posible? He says he is self-taught and receives no help at any time.

How does he know about colour, and depth, and shadow?

If these are not faked in any way, they are worth mentioning here because they are an incredible achievement, in my opinion. I put these in this section because I have seen the words "psychic", "God", and "Miracle" associated with these drawings by people who have seen them.

[patnray]

He claims he does it by feel. "First, using a Braille stylus, he etches an outline of his drawing." Since he waits for each color to dry before adding the next color, he should be able to feel where the previous colors are.

He may have received feed back in the past concerning shading and compatible colors.

Should be easy to test: he should be able to work in a completelly dark room.

[sophia8]

Totally blind artists usually manage by getting others to lay out their colours for them in identifiable pots and so on, like this woman. (http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2008/jul/28/familyandrelationships.healthandwellbeing)
However, as I keep saying whenever we discuss the subject, there are degrees of blindness. It's perfectly possible for somebody to have enough vision to distinguish colours, shadows and tones and still be considered blind by medics and the rest of the world. You can only be sure that a 'blind' person is totally blind when they have no eyes.
I suspect this man has some sight - otherwise he would have no concept of shape or colour. Just examine his work - the skies and the rivers are blue, the mountaintops are white, the boat sail is white, the roofs are red; his portrait of Cinton has the light and shade areas in the correct places, with the correct tonal values. He's even managed perspective, which a really blind person would have no idea about.
He is not totally blind, I'm certain of it. And why does a totally blind person need to wear dark glasses?

[blutoski]

And why does a totally blind person need to wear dark glasses?

Well, that's pretty common. It's for the rest of us - many totally blind people's eyes "wander", and it makes the sighted uncomfortable.

[dustbunny]

I'm not sure, I draw portraits and have painted for people in the past. If this mans claims are true the pictures look pretty impressive to me for someone with no sight. He's blended colours and added shadows on some pictures. I suspect someone has helped him here especially with the more difficult parts of the paintings.

[Amapola]

Well... to me, this is obvious fraud. If you truly can not see *AT ALL*, why would you paint to represent things visually? It makes no sense. You would not paint Bill Clinton as he looked, but as he sounded or felt to you. You would not paint things visually at all - your pictures would be much more abstract than this, and frankly, they would probably be far more interesting.

There are any number of ways to fake this. I don't see any difficulty in not believing the guy since he is so obviously lying.

[Perpetual Seeker]

I'm totally blind myself, and only since 4 years old, and I don't even know about color, shape, or shadow. Nevermind that, I don't know what mountains look like, or the sky. I wouldn't be able to connect lines, either.

Obviously I don't know what his work looks like, but going by the descriptions here, I'm skeptical.

[dustbunny]

I'm totally blind myself, and only since 4 years old, and I don't even know about color, shape, or shadow. Nevermind that, I don't know what mountains look like, or the sky. I wouldn't be able to connect lines, either.

Obviously I don't know what his work looks like, but going by the descriptions here, I'm skeptical.

Maybe your own personal experiences of being blind give the best opinions of all. I have wondered though if this man had used a heightened sense of touching and feeling with help from others. It's difficult to tell with no personal background on him. Again without that we're left guessing.

[Perpetual Seeker]

Maybe your own personal experiences of being blind give the best opinions of all. I have wondered though if this man had used a heightened sense of touching and feeling with help from others. It's difficult to tell with no personal background on him. Again without that we're left guessing.

That could be feasible.

My biggest problem is that of perspective. I remember in school, in art class, being taught about perspective, and it made no sense to me whatsoever. I couldn't imagine horizons or, well, anything to do with 3d perception on a 2d surface. Certainly, to create perspective, in addition to shadowing and the like, without any sort of mistake, seems really unlikely. Believe me, to feel a tactile version of a picture (assuming he could get that from feeling the painting) and try to get the bigger picture of it instead of just seeing the individual lines, is really hard. Well, I've never been able to do it, so near impossible for me, anyway.

[dustbunny]

That could be feasible.

My biggest problem is that of perspective. I remember in school, in art class, being taught about perspective, and it made no sense to me whatsoever. I couldn't imagine horizons or, well, anything to do with 3d perception on a 2d surface. Certainly, to create perspective, in addition to shadowing and the like, without any sort of mistake, seems really unlikely. Believe me, to feel a tactile version of a picture (assuming he could get that from feeling the painting) and try to get the bigger picture of it instead of just seeing the individual lines, is really hard. Well, I've never been able to do it, so near impossible for me, anyway.

It seems less likely, after reading your quote, that he can do it and more likely that it's not genuine. After all you have a good understanding from being blind yourself. It would be interesting if anything else arises that gives more information on the man himself. I wouldn't even know where to begin to find out.

[volatile]

The guy isn't just legally blind. He has no eyes. His brain does not respond to light stimulus. He's blind.

That said, check the BoingBoing post (http://www.boingboing.net/2008/08/01/blind-painter-esref.html), and particularly the linked video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3AgO6H0H98). The comments there are interesting too.

I'm going genuine on this...

[dustbunny]

Very interesting. I agree from what I've just watched I'd say genuine too.

[Humphreys]

There is an interesting New Scientist article on the man here:

http://www.newscientist.com/channel/being-human/mg18524841.700

[dustbunny]

There is an interesting New Scientist article on the man here:

http://www.newscientist.com/channel/being-human/mg18524841.700


He really does seem genuine and this link just reaffirms it. It's easier now I've watched him and read the articles to come to that opinion.

I don't know whether anyone can remember but quite a few years ago I watched a programme about a blind man who could ride a bicycle. He somehow sensed obstacles like cars, etc, and could veer away before hitting them. I've just done a quick search for relevant links to the story but can't find any. Does anyone else remember this at all?

[Humphreys]

I know the guy you're referring to. Apparently, he used his voice or whistling to act as a kind of sonar, and it was extremely effective.

Very impressive.

I would agree that this guy is genuine, but maybe has had a lot more assistance than he implies. Either way, he's an amazing guy with an amazing talent.

[GreyICE]

Obviously he's had a lot of assistance.

This is still genius level talent if he can do the things they say he tested. His talent for visualization is at that 99.9% genius level. The fact that he didn't develop eyes obviously hampered it, but it apparently still functions, which is cool, and more than a little odd.

[dustbunny]

I know the guy you're referring to. Apparently, he used his voice or whistling to act as a kind of sonar, and it was extremely effective.

Very impressive.

Thanks I couldn't remember how he did it but I was amazed.

I would agree that this guy is genuine, but maybe has had a lot more assistance than he implies. Either way, he's an amazing guy with an amazing talent.

I think he's had people helping in some ways. After watching him draw that building yesterday and his technique for guiding the pencil I was fascinated. May he continue the good work.